Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht’s latest appeal postponed

A judge has described ‘moot’ RossUlbricht’slatestattempt to have his multiplelifesentencesvoided/overruledlawyer Paul Grant failed to filepaperswithdrawinghimself as Ulbricht’s attorney.

Ulbrichtistrying to have his sentencesvacated and claimsthat his ex-defense attorney Joshua Drathel gave incompetentcounsel.

Ulbrichtcreated and administeredtheSilkRoadblack market from 2011 and 2013, when he wasarrested. SilkRoadwas a popularDark Net marketplaceforsellingdrugs, weaponry, and otherillegalitems, thoughsiteadminshaveclaimedthatthesiteenforced a “no harm” policy.

Investigators and journalistshaveclaimedthat, duringthecourseofrunningthesite, Ulbricht, whonamedhimself, “DreadPirateRoberts,” attempted to dealwithconflicts and thefts by arrangingtheassassinationof his opponents by contractinghitmen.

In June, Ulbrichtsubmitted a declaration in NewYork in which he saidhis lawyer Joshua Drateladvisedhimincorrectlyabout his prospectsofwinningat trial if he plead not guilty:

“Trial counselrecommended I rejectthegovernment’sofferbecausethesentencingexposurewastoogreat, therewasnothingto begained by pleadingguilty, and nothing to lose by going to trial…Trial counselnevertoldmethat 97% ofallfederaldefendantspleadguiltybecause most defense attorneys…typicallyconsidergoing to trial too risky and…likely to result in a harshersentence (the “trial penalty”) ifthedefendantisconvicted…I wasnot toldthat in 2012 and 2013…90% ofthosewhowent to trial wereconvictedat trial…I was not informedthatfewerthan 1% offederalcriminaldefendants in the United Stateswerefound not guilty in 2012 or 2013.”

Ulbrichtalsoclaimsthat his lawyeradmitted his guiltwithoutUlbricht’s permission:

“Later on in the trial, Mr. Drateltoldme he wasgoing to stipulate to theadmissibilityofgovernment evidence regardingdrugspurchased on theSilkRoad…Trial counselassuredmethatthese stipulationswereconsistentwithdefendingmeagainstthecharges. I did not realizethat trial counsel’sstipulations and admissionof my role wereconcessionsof my guilt. I expectedhimto challengethegovernment’s evidence and thecredibility and knowledgeofitswitnesses.”

Ulbricht also claimed his lawyer threatened at the 11th hour to abandon the case if he testified in his own defence:

“Near the end of the prosecutor’s case, I met with Mr. Dratel in a holding cell just outside the trial courtroom. At that time, I informed Mr. Dratel that I had decided to testify. He was quite disturbed with my decision and he told me he would withdraw as my counsel if I insisted on testifying…”“I regret to this day that I did not get the chance it testify…it would have allowed me to explain many things to the jury(,) many things which were misrepresented by the government or which were not made clear at my trial, and to correct their misrepresentation of who I am,” Ulbricht writes.

Ulbricht’s attorneys has been ordered to file a newmotion to vacatethe sentence by September 27, 2019.